Feeding Your Picky Eaters

• Every week, have a “Try-a-New-Food-Day.” Try to keep it the same day of the week. Plan the choice ahead, and let everyone make selections, too.
• Teach your family about the variety of tastes, textures, smells, and colors, associated with foods.
• Try things cooked or raw, if appropriate, and cooked in several different ways. Broil, bake, roast, grill, boil, steam, etc.
• Try adding a favorite sauce (ketchup, mayo, mustard, dressing, cheese sauce, etc.) and then back off on the sauce.
• Help your family understand that variety is healthiest.
• When appropriate, allow your family, especially children, to participate in the grocery list and grocery shopping.
• Try new foods from all five of the food groups.
• Encourage your family and your children to do food prep. Try to figure out when they are ready to work in the kitchen.
• Be patient, and make sure that meal times are always comfortable.
• Picky eating may be a behavior. Make sure folks express their wishes and feelings in ways that are not related to food.
• Find ways to boost each individual’s self esteem, and watch the favorable results.
• Those teeth were made for chewing! Part of growing up means that we use our teeth to chew adult foods. Remind your children to chew food thoroughly before swallowing.